Forge an Unbreakable Evening Wind-Down Routine: Reset, Reflect, and Prepare to Dominate Tomorrow
- Rick Hogg
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Hey folks, it's Rick Hogg here from War HOGG Tactical. We've talked a lot about crushing the morning with faith, fitness, and firearms, but here's the truth: an unbreakable day doesn't end when the sun goes down, it ends with intention. Your evening wind-down is what bridges today to tomorrow. Do it right, and you wake up ready to dominate. Do it wrong, scrolling mindlessly or crashing without reflection, and you're already starting behind.In this article, I'm walking you through my exact evening routine. This isn't some fluffy relaxation gimmick; it's a disciplined reset that keeps me accountable, clears my head, and preps me to hit the ground running at 5:30 AM. It's built on the same American grit and "Be 1% Better Everyday" mindset that drives everything at War HOGG. Let's get into it.
Why an Evening Routine Matters More Than You Think
Most people let their evenings just happen. They get home, flip on the TV, doom-scroll social media, and wonder why they wake up foggy and unmotivated. I never had social media while I was in the Army and now running a business I was forced to get it for marketing purposes. I can tell you after being deactivated by Instagram, social media is a terrible return on investment. All that time, my number one most precious commodity, wasted by the Censorship Industrial Complex, (Instagram, Facebook, Meta, YouTube). Remember you are the product, the social platforms take your data to better build their bank accounts. Take time, read a book, I have found it helps me staying sharp post-retirement.
A solid wind-down does three critical things:
It lets you review the day and lock in the wins and lessons.
It offloads mental clutter so you actually rest well.
It sets tomorrow up for success, no decision fatigue, no excuses.
Without this, you're reacting to life. With it, you're directing it. Simple as that.
Step 1: Shut Down the Noise – Limit Screens and Distractions
I start winding down around 8:30–9:00 PM, depending on the day. First thing: screens go into low mode. I've cut way back on social media over the years, deactivated accounts that weren't serving me, and I don't chase followers for ego. It's hard to win a rigged game when Meta is holding all the cards. If I'm checking Instagram (@warhoggtactical), it's quick and intentional.
Phone goes on Do Not Disturb. No late-night emails unless it's urgent. Blue light gets blocked if I'm on a device. This isn't about being anti-technology; it's about controlling social media instead of letting of the propaganda machine control you. Your brain needs time to downshift, not rev up with endless feeds.
Step 2: Review the Day – Wins, Lessons, and the Five F's Check
Once the house is quiet, I sit down with my notebooks. This is non-negotiable.
I flip through my company notebook first, the one where I blocked out the day's tasks for War HOGG Tactical and On The Range Podcast. I check off what got done, note any carryover items, and quickly prioritize anything urgent for tomorrow.
Then comes the accountability piece I live by: the Five F's self-check.
Faith: Did I spend time in the Word or prayer today?
Fitness: Did I get my workout and dry fire in?
Firearms: Did I train or at least maintain readiness?
Family: Did I connect meaningfully with my wife, kids, or loved ones?
Finances: Did I make smart money moves or at least stay aware?
If I’m short in any area, I own it, no excuses, and make a note to fix it tomorrow. This keeps me from drifting. It's American grit in action: honest assessment, no sugarcoating.
Step 3: Journal – Gratitude, Reflection, and Growth
Next, I grab my personal journal. I regret not journaling more consistently during my active-duty years—there's real power in putting pen to paper.
Every night, I write:
Three things I'm grateful for from the day. Keeps perspective grounded.
One win - something I did well, no matter how small.
One area for improvement - where I fell short and how I'll be 1% better tomorrow.
A short reflection - sometimes just a sentence or two about what the day taught me.
This takes 5–10 minutes, but it clears mental baggage and reinforces growth. Gratitude isn't soft, it's fuel. Reflection isn't dwelling, it's sharpening the blade.
Step 4: Plan Tomorrow – Eliminate Morning Decision Fatigue
This is where the magic happens for my mornings. I don't wing it when the alarm goes off. In my Fitness & Firearms Training Notebook, I plan the next day's workout and dry fire drills. What exercises? How many rounds of dry fire? Specific goals? It's all written down. Then, back in the War HOGG company notebook, I block out tomorrow's schedule, key tasks for War HOGG, podcast work, calls, appointments. I break the day into chunks with clear objectives so I can attack them one by one.
Everything's prepped: clothes laid out if needed, pre-workout ready, notebooks closed and in place. When 5:30 hits, there's zero friction, just execution.
Step 5: Final Wind-Down – Read, Pray, and Disconnect
Last pieces before bed:
A few minutes of light reading - usually something faith-based or personal development, never heavy screens.
Prayer - thanking God for the day, asking for rest and strength for tomorrow, and lifting up my family.
Lights out by 10:00–10:30 PM most nights. Sleep is a weapon, I treat it like one.
No late-night eating, no alcohol that kills recovery. Just disciplined rest.
Tools That Make This Routine StickYou don't need much, but these help:
Fitness & Firearms Training Notebook from warhogg.com – for planning workouts and dry fire.
A simple company or daily task notebook.
A dedicated journal for gratitude and reflection.
Phone on Do Not Disturb and blue-light blockers.
Keep it simple. Complexity kills consistency.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
Biggest traps I see:
Letting "just one more thing" turn into hours of lost time.
Skipping journaling because you're "tired" - that's when you need it most.
Not planning tomorrow because "you'll remember" - you won't.
Fix: Make it non-negotiable. Tie it to your identity. If you're serious about growth, you protect this time like training or family.
Wrapping Up: Close Strong to Start Stronger
There it is, my evening wind-down routine, built from decades of discipline and refined post-retirement. It's not glamorous, but it works. Review your day, own your accountability, plan your attack, and rest with purpose.
Do this consistently, and you'll wake up clear-headed, motivated, and ready to dominate, no matter what yesterday threw at you.
Start tonight. Grab a notebook, check your five F's, write down tomorrow's plan. Be 1% better when your head hits the pillow.
Train hard, reflect harder, and I'll see you On The Range - Rick
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